Succulent Seed Sowing Methods: A Detailed Guide to Soil Mix, Germination Rate and Survival Rate

Many succulent enthusiasts have likely had experience sowing succulents themselves, and quite often it does not succeed. There are many factors involved, including the seeds, the substrate, and so on. Below is a summary of some experiences from hobbyists sowing succulents, which is very useful for reference.

Summary of Succulent Sowing Experience

Note: The following is aimed at beginners at succulent sowing, covering Echeveria, Pachyphytum, Graptopetalum, Sedum, Dudleya, etc. in the Crassulaceae family, and does not apply to cacti, Haworthia, etc.

1. Soil mix for succulent sowing

The main principle of the soil mix for succulent sowing is to balance air permeability and water retention, and the requirement for water retention is much higher than for mature plants, so in principle it just needs to be finer than the soil for mature plants. Common recipes include:

Peat : vermiculite : 1-3mm granules = 3:1:1

Peat : vermiculite : rice husk charcoal = 3:1:0.5

In short, peat at 60{bf} or more cannot be reduced any further, and pure peat is also fine. For peat, the recommended choice is Klasmann sowing grade 1-3mm, which is clean and uniform. Other imported brands are fine too. Domestic peat is not sterilised cleanly, so it is not good.

Be cautious about using garden soil for succulents

As for the granules, any that do not easily break down into powder will do, and they should be small, 1-3mm. One thing to note is perlite: if seedlings grow on perlite, their roots cannot penetrate it, so if you use perlite to save money, remember to transplant the seedlings in time.

I have tried all three recipes above (and in fact many others besides), and they had no significant effect on germination rate or survival rate.

When it comes to soil, what matters more is disinfection and sterilisation. Without proper sterilisation, fungus will easily grow, and once fungus grows the seedlings basically stop growing. There are many sterilisation methods: soaking in potassium permanganate solution, soaking in carbendazim solution, and so on, but you must soak it thoroughly, not just disinfect the surface.

2. Germination rate of succulent sowing

The most important factors affecting germination rate are how plump and how fresh the seeds are.

Buy from large producers, such as kk, kp, rp, and do not casually buy seeds shared online or self-crossed by hobbyists. Most people in China are extremely lacking in basic knowledge when it comes to succulent hybridisation.

If buying through a purchasing agent, choose one with large sales volume, ask clearly when they received their stock, and avoid buying old seeds.

It is best to sow immediately after obtaining the seeds. If you have to delay until the next sowing season, the most reliable way to store them is to wrap them in toilet paper and keep them refrigerated in the fridge.